Scalable variable-index elasto-optic metamaterials for macroscopic optical components and devices

Dongheok Shin, Junhyun Kim, Changwook Kim, Kyuyoung Bae, Seunghwa Baek, Gumin Kang, Yaroslav Urzhumov, David R. Smith and Kyoungsik Kim ()
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Dongheok Shin: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Junhyun Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Changwook Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Kyuyoung Bae: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Seunghwa Baek: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Gumin Kang: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University
Yaroslav Urzhumov: Centre for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics, Duke University
David R. Smith: Centre for Metamaterials and Integrated Plasmonics, Duke University
Kyoungsik Kim: School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University

Nature Communications, 2017, vol. 8, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Optical metamaterials with an artificial subwavelength structure offer new approaches to implement advanced optical devices. However, some of the biggest challenges associated with the development of metamaterials in the visible spectrum are the high costs and slow production speeds of the nanofabrication processes. Here, we demonstrate a macroscale (>35 mm) transformation-optics wave bender (293 mm2) and Luneburg lens (855 mm2) in the broadband white-light visible wavelength range using the concept of elasto-optic metamaterials that combines optics and solid mechanics. Our metamaterials consist of mesoscopically homogeneous chunks of bulk aerogels with superior, broadband optical transparency across the visible spectrum and an adjustable, stress-tuneable refractive index ranging from 1.43 down to nearly the free space index (∼1.074). The experimental results show that broadband light can be controlled and redirected in a volume of >105λ × 105λ × 103λ, which enables natural light to be processed directly by metamaterial-based optical devices without any additional coupling components.

Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16090

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